, 1887-02-20
GODS IN CAPTIVITY.
IDOLS IN NEW YORK FROM CHINA,
AFRICA AND INDIA.

Gods and Goddesses-HorrId Grotesque-
ness-The Chinese Adam-Buddhist vir-
gin-vishnu's -Four Incarnation.
There are about 200 heather idols in this
city, OF which the Presbyterian collection has
eighty-ive. These embrace idols from China,
India, Mexico and Africa, and include a
sufficient variety to satisfy the most pro-
nounced heather. A heather god doesn't
pride himself on his beauty, but relies on his
horrid grotesqueness to send a chill down tho
backbone OF his devotees. One OF the three
Mexican idols is of wood. Tho sculptor evil
IDENTIFY used q jack knife, and gavo the idol
great angularitv in all directions, especially
at the knee and elbow joints. The arms meet
in front without the intervention of hands.
The body Is very long and the face utterly
without expression. Another Mexican speci-.
men the old Aztec deities, with
heavy masses of stono carving about the head,
a stern expression in the face, and vigorous
ugliness strongly predominant In every feat
ure. The third of the Mexican gods Is of
wood and resembles a coal HEAVIER with a pro-
fusion of black paint on his face, heavy
muscles and a garment OF green cloth.
There is one African idol. Its c~ountenAnce
looks like a distorted negro face, with lips as
II cut apart by a huge pillow. The nose is of
'aalOf oHa n AAobo tCh
through the forehead to the hair, which is
composed of braided cords. The dress Is of
black and white cotton cloth, and her shout
ders are covered with q cape of red annel
The arms extend nearly to the feet and are
very clumsy.
VARIOUS CHINESE GODS.
Fiss Sing is the Chinese god Of literature.
He is worshiped by all literary men. He IL
represented with one foot on the head Of the
sacred fish, and is evidently as much down on
1t as an American editor Is on a fsh story.
He holds aloft in ono and a pen, which
looks like a cigarette, and Is made Of paper.
In the other hand is a tablet OF papyrus.
Unlike literary men, he is very homely. He
has large ears, and has apparently just re-
ceived some news and is hurrying to get it In
the Inst edition. His left foot is raised be-
hind him, as II in the act OF running.
Lui Kung is the god of thunder. Thunder
and lightning are supposed to be under his
control, and he is much feared. His upper
lip Is constructed on the principle Of a cow
catcher. The nose is chopped Off squarcly at
the bottom. Each check is ornamented with
a brazen spot. His ears are large and broad,
and above them are two large flaps like Gle
plants ears and red as beets. He wears a
golden robe and looks generally as II he were
running against a high wind. His right
hand Is raised, as II 10 touch off the thunder
Each foot has three toes, and his knees are
covered with mail. He is seated In n large
chair.
Prin Xii Wing, the Chinese Adam, was the
first man, according to Chinese theory. He
sprang out Of chaos, and then remodeled the
heavens and the earth. He is worshiped
principally by erecters of meat sheds IN
China. He is seated squsrely on Il block, and
holds one OF the Chinese diagrams, or anu
lets, In his hands, has a short skirt about his
loins and n mantle ON his shoulders. His
forehead n high and streaked with black
paint His ears are large, face fair and his
hair is raised in heavy lines. Dee-Low-
Koon, a baldheaded, benevolent old fellow,
with long tufts OF horsehair whiskers, is one
of the Seen" an imaginary species of genii,
OF men who have become immortal and in
habit the hills. His business is to teach men
to find the Elixir OF Life Tor to make it,, or "a
medicine which confers Immortality.
THE BUDDHIST VIRGIN.
Kevan Len is the Buddhist virgin. She is
attircd in gold, has n face of the color of red
clay, and is under a canopy with arms rest
ing on a balcony. Two brother gods, with
out names, have deep black faces, with
heavy whiskers and mustaches In tufts like
hogs in u swamp Of inky water. One has his
eyes turned downward; the others are dis
tended as II he had just ended a severe ft of
choking. Above the one are strung q couple
OF black keys, and the other has Of
the same kind in white metal. Nearly all the
Chinese gods have nicely curled mustaches
When they have whiskers they are in the tuft
form, stiff as porcupine quilts.
Feen-hau Is the Queen of Heaven, and is
very generally worshiped in China, espe-
cially by seamen. She is enshrined In every
vessel, and has many temples on land. She
has a gentle expression. There are several
representations Of her. In one she Is seated
In a large chair, completely filling it, and has
a fat piece OF wood on her head. In another
she is represented in gold clothing, with her
hands wrapped in a rich mantle. She has
large ears, with drops, holds u scepter, and
looks like a fat China woman. Kum-yam, or
the Goodies OF Mercy, is wo~rshiped by all
classes, She Is a huge female in dark red,
with large limbs, and is seated with a child
resting on one knee. Her face has a mild ex-
preston and she Is not particularly homely~
An image of Buddha, about to be conse-
Grated when bought, was mnde in Siam, and
cost 62N cents in silver. The Sacred Bull Ia
In marble and is kneeling down. 1t Is very
heavy. No. 107 Of the collection is a necklace.
The Hindus think they cannot tell a lie when
this is on their ueck. Sing Wan San Poosa is
a god of riches and is a solitary character. 1t
Is said he has given tho wealth of China to
England, and he is therefore heartily despised.
Ram, incarnation of Vishnu, Is in marble.
He was found In Sutledge river. near Lodiana,
having been thrown there because Of a broken
arm. When an idol has q limb broken he Is
thrown away. There are fonr representations
OF the incarnations OF Vishnu. One is the
Boar Avatar, which is looking up, supporting
the world on his snout. He has n boar's head
but q mans body. Tit Fish Avatar has tho
body of a fish with the head of a woman and
four hands. He holds a scepter in his left
hand and is trampling on a man. Katch
Avatar has two scepters and is four handed.
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